ARQUES Industries AG has taken over the largest German telecommunications distributor, NT plus AG. The sellers are United Internet AG and Neue Medien Ulm Holding GmbH, who are to concentrate on their core business in the future, as well as three smaller shareholders. NT plus AG, with headquarters in Osnabrück, is a sustainably profitable wholesale dealer in the telecommunications segment and generated revenues to the value of EUR 450 million in 2006. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The transaction is subject to the usual approval of the Federal Cartel Office.
NT plus AG is the market leader in distribution in the German telecommunications specialised trade. The company, founded in 1990, has a broad customer and supplier base consisting of more than 12,000 active specialised trade partners as well as more than 10,000 mobile communication, network marketing, navigation, terminal equipment, office equipment, telecommunications equipment and systems, and PMR products of 120 manufacturers and network operators.
The purchase offers ARQUES Industries AG the opportunity to extend its IT distribution segment through the addition of the telecommunications segment. Experts are expecting the information technology and telecommunications markets to grow closer together. The management of NT plus AG and the Actebis group will define growth strategies together in this regard. ARQUES is planning the initial public offer of the Actebis Group in 2008.
"The purchase of NT plus was an opportunity which we simply could not afford to miss. In this case, ARQUES also proved itself as a business partner for safe and fast transactions and has allowed the sellers to concentrate on their core business. NT plus, together with Actebis, offers us clear growth potential. We were able to reach one of the Actebis growth goals faster than expected", said ARQUES executive board member responsible for acquisitions, Dr. Michael Schumann.
"In ARQUES we have found a reliable business partner who will strategically develop NT plus AG which is very well positioned on the market and who offers the company good future prospect", said Michael Scheeren, member of the supervisory board of United Internet AG.
In 2007 ARQUES has acquired companies with annual revenues of EUR 3.5 billion. The annualised group revenues thereby rose to EUR 4.5 billion.
NT plus AG is the market leader in distribution in the German telecommunications specialised trade. The company, founded in 1990, has a broad customer and supplier base consisting of more than 12,000 active specialised trade partners as well as more than 10,000 mobile communication, network marketing, navigation, terminal equipment, office equipment, telecommunications equipment and systems, and PMR products of 120 manufacturers and network operators.
The purchase offers ARQUES Industries AG the opportunity to extend its IT distribution segment through the addition of the telecommunications segment. Experts are expecting the information technology and telecommunications markets to grow closer together. The management of NT plus AG and the Actebis group will define growth strategies together in this regard. ARQUES is planning the initial public offer of the Actebis Group in 2008.
"The purchase of NT plus was an opportunity which we simply could not afford to miss. In this case, ARQUES also proved itself as a business partner for safe and fast transactions and has allowed the sellers to concentrate on their core business. NT plus, together with Actebis, offers us clear growth potential. We were able to reach one of the Actebis growth goals faster than expected", said ARQUES executive board member responsible for acquisitions, Dr. Michael Schumann.
"In ARQUES we have found a reliable business partner who will strategically develop NT plus AG which is very well positioned on the market and who offers the company good future prospect", said Michael Scheeren, member of the supervisory board of United Internet AG.
In 2007 ARQUES has acquired companies with annual revenues of EUR 3.5 billion. The annualised group revenues thereby rose to EUR 4.5 billion.
